Most people with braces are advised to avoid chewing gum, or to chew only sugar-free gum if their dental practitioner agrees. Sticky gum can bend wires, loosen brackets and get caught in the braces. The advice depends on the type of braces, so check with the practitioner looking after your treatment.
Why gum can be a problem with braces
- It can stick to brackets and wires and be hard to remove
- Chewing can bend thin wires, which may move teeth the wrong way
- It can loosen brackets or bands
- Gum with sugar feeds plaque around the brackets and raises the risk of decay
What gum can you have with braces?
If your practitioner says gum is fine, choose sugar-free gum, which is less sticky than regular or bubble gum. Sugar-free gum also increases saliva, which helps neutralise acids after meals. Stop chewing and call your practitioner if a wire or bracket feels loose.
When to avoid gum completely
- In the first days after braces are fitted or adjusted, when teeth are tender
- If you wear elastics or have expanders or other appliances
- If you have had brackets come loose before
- If your practitioner has advised against it
Can you chew gum with clear aligners?
Do not chew gum with aligners in, because it sticks to the plastic and can damage it. Aligners are removed for eating, so sugar-free gum is possible with the aligners out, followed by cleaning your teeth before putting them back. Aligners need to be worn for the hours prescribed, usually 20 to 22 hours a day. Read about Invisalign in Penrith.
Other foods to avoid with braces
- Sticky lollies, toffee and caramel
- Hard foods such as nuts, ice and hard lollies
- Popcorn
- Whole apples and raw carrots, unless cut into small pieces
- Chewing on pens or fingernails
See our full list in what can you eat with braces, and our guide to teeth braces.
Penrith Dental Care provides Invisalign and clear aligners through our general dentists. We do not provide fixed braces and refer to a specialist orthodontist when braces are the better option. See orthodontics in Penrith.
To book a visit at Penrith Dental Care, 42 Castlereagh Street, Penrith, contact our team. This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own dental practitioner.